Posted on 06/07/2006 2:40:21 AM PDT by RWR8189
A former Republican congressman narrowly beat his Democratic rival early Wednesday for the right to fill the House seat once held by imprisoned Randy "Duke" Cunningham, a race closely watched as a possible early barometer of next fall's vote.
Republican Brian Bilbray emerged victorious after a costly and contentious race against Democrat Francine Busby, a local school board member who ran against Cunningham in 2004.
With 90 percent of precincts reporting, Bilbray had 56,016 votes or 49.5 percent. Busby trailed with 51,202 votes or 45 percent. "I think that we're going back to Washington," Bilbray told a cheering crowd of supporters.
The race — one of dozens of election contests in eight states — was viewed by Democrats as an opportunity to capture a solidly Republican district and build momentum on their hopes to capture control of the House
With 45% of the vote, Busby got the same percentage that Kerry got in this district in 2004.
This district is 44 percent republican, 34 percent democrat and 22 percent indpendent. In the past independents typically go 2 to 1 for the Democrat.
With that being the case in a two person race the Republican should in by about 5 points. And that is exactly what happened.
A race to close to call is a race in which the margin of victory is within the margin of error. Polling had to show that Bilbray was a certain winner.
This is just one more example of media bias. The strange thing is even with polls showing the power of the internet, the media still believes it can not be caught.
It's only a "barometer" if it indicates things they way the MSM wants them to come out.
It won't be a barometer next week, some other future contest will be.
If the D had won, it would be the barometer for weeks.
< /cynicism >
That's great!
But I'll be more excited when a conservative wins a Senate seat, instead of some heirarchical, sycophantic RINO schlub.
Polling within congressional districts in notoriously difficult, so I could give them that benefit of the doubt.
However I would be willing to bet that the MSM never mentions that Busby got the same % as Kerry did in 2004, instead we will only hear about her increase as a opposed to a then powerful incumbent from the last election.
Just remember a "bellwether" is nothing but a castrated ram.
My, my--the dems were SO hoping that this would be THE indicator of the upcoming elections this year. Hhahahahah
The blessing of Botox (r) is that Ms Pelosi's face won't show the disappointment tomorrow.
Pity though that the win will be simply written off in tomorrow's analysis as a democrat own-goal, a winning race lost by a "foot in mouth illegal immigrant without papers voting" moment.
This is only for a couple of months, right? They have to run again in November, I assume?
...and if voters fail to follow the orders given to them by their media overlords, then it's because their fears and ignorance were whooped up by demagogues (gay marriage, illegal immigration, etc)... (/sarc)
Conservatism wins every time. It's an easy political strategy.
HA. HA. HA.
What do you mean by hierarchical? Is he a lesser angel or a corporate middle manager?
But but but things will be different in November, remember my freeper friends the sky is falling, the sky is......wait a minute no it's not. LOL
Hackert / Busby close but no cigar. When will the morons realise.
Hmmm. Good question. Seems like a lot of trouble and expense for just two months.
The same two face-off again in November.
But at least now Bilbray has the advantage of incumbency going into the election.
Due to Busby winning the Democrat primary she will face off against Bilbury in November.Watch the Dems try and unload her.
Ding Dong the Senate comprehensive bill is dead.
I mean anointed and installed by the GOP for the advancement of an agenda, not necessarily the protection of the Constitution.
GREAT NEWS!
Looks like everything out of California this morning is a bellwether of continued GOP majority in the House.
I'm sure that the Driveby Media will report it as such. Just like if Busby had won.
And I'm so glad that the Dems are piling up "moral" victories...
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